Abstract: Methods of isolating nucleic acids comprising DNA from biological material are disclosed. The methods comprise a lysis step using an aqueous composition which comprises lithium at a concentration of 0.05 to 1.0M, a chelating agent, and a surfactant to produce a lysed composition. The lysed composition is treated with a solid support that is capable of immobilising DNA in the presence of a dissolved chaotropic agent at a concentration of 0.05 to 2M and 25% to 60% by volume of a C1-3 alkanol. The support is then washed with a first wash solution containing lithium dissolved in a C1-3 alkanol. Subsequently, the support is washed with a liquid comprising at least 80% by volume of a C1-3 alkanol. The nucleic acid comprising DNA is then eluted from the support.

Abstract: There is provided a method of amplifying a nucleic acid sequence. The method comprises providing an amplification mixture comprising an exonuclease capable of digestion of a strand of a double stranded nucleic acid molecule from the 5?-end towards the 3?-end, a strand displacing polymerase, a double stranded nucleic acid molecule comprising first and second nucleic acid strands, a first nucleic acid primer, and nucleotides as appropriate to provide for amplification of the first nucleic acid sequence to be amplified. The method further comprises effecting the amplification reaction under conditions permitting digestion, exonuclease digestion and strand displacement polymerisation thereby producing a product mixture comprising an amplified amount of said first nucleic acid sequence.

Abstract: Methods of isolating nucleic acids comprising DNA from biological material are disclosed. The methods comprise a lysis step using an aqueous composition which comprises lithium at a concentration of 0.05 to 1.0M, a chelating agent, and a surfactant to produce a lysed composition. The lysed composition is treated with a solid support that is capable of immobilising DNA in the presence of a dissolved chaotropic agent at a concentration of 0.05 to 2M and 25% to 60% by volume of a C1-3 alkanol. The support is then washed with a first wash solution containing lithium dissolved in a C1-3 alkanol. Subsequently, the support is washed with a liquid comprising at least 80% by volume of a C1-3 alkanol. The nucleic acid comprising DNA is then eluted from the support.

Abstract: A method of analysing for a single stranded nucleic acid present, or potentially present, in a sample comprises a step in which the target nucleic acid (if present in the sample) displaces—and hybridises to—a reporter strand originally present in an interrogating duplex structure comprised of the reporter strand and a displaceable shorter strand. The reporter strand is tagged at or adjacent one end thereof with a reporter moiety capable of providing a detectable signal. The reporter/target duplex structure is such that the reporter strand may be selectively enzymatically digested (e.g. by means of ?-exonuclease) from its end opposite the reporter moiety to release that moiety for direct or indirect detection and regenerate single stranded target, which may then cycle through a plurality of the displacement and digestion steps to result in amplification of signal.

Abstract: An assay device (1) for determining the presence and/or amount of an analyte present or potentially present in a liquid sample comprises: (i) a capillary tube (2) having an upstream region (3) into which the sample to be assayed is introduced for transfer by capillary action along the capillary tube to a downstream region thereof; (ii) a collection of first binding partners (5) immobilized within the capillary tube (2), said first binding partners (5) being capable of specifically binding to the analyte; (iii) a collection of second binding partners (6) displaceabley bound to a fraction of said first binding partners (5) whereby there are free first binding partners (5) immobilized within the capillary tube, said second binding partners (6) having a label and being displaceable from the first binding partners (5) by the analyte to be detected; and (iv) a detection region (4) for sample that has transferred to said downstream region of said capillary tube, said detection region being adapted to generate a dete

Abstract: A sodium bicarbonate product comprises particles containing sodium bicarbonate and an organic material that is a solid at ambient temperature. The particles have a structure comprised of individual crystallites of sodium bicarbonate attached together in the particle. More than 95% by volume of the particles have a size less than 200 ?m. Particles of the product are hollow and are formed of an outer shell of the crystallites. The product may be used, for example, as a leavening agent in the production of cooked foods. The product may be produced by spray drying a solution or slurry dissolved organic material and dissolved sodium bicarbonate. The sodium bicarbonate may be present as a suspension.

Abstract: A method of preparing a salt product comprises the steps of: (i) providing a mixture which comprises salt dissolved in a solvent, said mixture further containing an organic material that is solid under ambient temperature conditions; and (ii) atomizing said mixture and evaporating said solvent to produce a salt product comprised of particles of salt incorporating said organic material. The organic material may be a polymer such as a carbohydrate (e.g. maltodextrin or Gum Arabic). Novel salt products are disclosed which comprise hollow particles having a shell formed for individual crystallites of salt. The salt product is useful as a seasoning for food and may be used in lower amounts than conventional salt to provide the same taste. Particular advantages are obtained in the baking of bread.

Abstract: A sodium bicarbonate product comprises particles containing sodium bicarbonate and an organic material that is a solid at ambient temperature. The particles have a structure comprised of individual crystallites of sodium bicarbonate attached together in the particle. More than 95% by volume of the particles have a size less than 200 ?m. Particles of the product are hollow and are formed of an outer shell of the crystallites. The product may be used, for example, as a leavening agent in the production of cooked foods. The product may be produced by spray drying a solution or slurry dissolved organic material and dissolved sodium bicarbonate. The sodium bicarbonate may be present as a suspension.

Abstract: A sample testing device for testing for the presence of a component of interest in a liquid sample includes: (a) a capillary pathway having an upstream end and a downstream end and incorporating a reagent system capable of causing agglutination with the component; (b) optionally, a control capillary pathway; (c) a sampling region to which the liquid sample is applied and from which the sample is able to enter the upstream ends of the test and control capillaries; (d) a power source; (e) detection arrangements electrically associated with the power source for detecting the presence of liquid at a downstream region of the capillaries; (f) a display operated by the power source for indicating the result of the test; and (g) a signal processor associated with the power source, detection arrangement and display for evaluating the result of the test and providing the result on the display.

Abstract: The present invention provides an agglutination based assay system for determining the presence and/or amount of analyte in a sample comprising a test device having one or more capillary pathways comprising detection regions adapted for non-visual detection of a sample which is releasably engageable with a reader which comprises detection means for detecting the sample at the detection regions in each of said capillary pathways and electronic means for indicating the presence and/or amount of analyte.

Abstract: A method of preparing a salt product comprises the steps of: (i) providing a mixture which comprises salt dissolved in a solvent, said mixture further containing an organic material that is solid under ambient temperature conditions; and (ii) atomising said mixture and evaporating said solvent to produce a salt product comprised of particles of salt incorporating said organic material. The organic material may be a polymer such as a carbohydrate (e.g. maltodextrin or Gum Arabic). Novel salt products are disclosed which comprise hollow particles having a shell formed for individual crystallites of salt. The salt product is useful as a seasoning for food and may be used in lower amounts than conventional salt to provide the same taste. Particular advantages are obtained in the baking of bread.

Abstract: An assay device (1) for determining the presence and/or amount of an analyte present or potentially present in a liquid sample comprises: (i) a capillary tube (2) having an upstream region (3) into which the sample to be assayed is introduced for transfer by capillary action along the capillary tube to a downstream region thereof; (ii) a collection of first binding partners (5) immobilised within the capillary tube (2), said first binding partners (5) being capable of specifically binding to the analyte; (iii) a collection of second binding partners (6) displaceabley bound to a fraction of said first binding partners (5) whereby there are free first binding partners (5) immobilised within the capillary tube, said second binding partners (6) having a label and being displaceable from the first binding partners (5) by the analyte to be detected; and (iv) a detection region (4) for sample that has transferred to said downstream region of said capillary tube, said detection region being adapted to generate a dete

Abstract: A method of preparing a salt product comprises the steps of: (i) providing a mixture which comprises salt dissolved in a solvent, said mixture further containing an organic material that is solid under ambient temperature conditions; and (ii) atomising said mixture and evaporating said solvent to produce a salt product comprised of particles of salt incorporating said organic material. The organic material may be a polymer such as a carbohydrate (e.g. maltodextrin or Gum Arabic). Novel salt products are disclosed which comprise hollow particles having a shell formed for individual crystallites of salt. The salt product is useful as a seasoning for food and may be used in lower amounts than conventional salt to provide the same taste. Particular advantages are obtained in the baking of bread.

Abstract: A sample testing device for testing for the presence of a component of interest in a liquid sample includes: (a) a capillary pathway having an upstream end and a downstream end and incorporating a reagent system capable of causing agglutination with the component; (b) optionally, a control capillary pathway; (c) a sampling region to which the liquid sample is applied and from which the sample is able to enter the upstream ends of the test and control capillaries; (d) a power source; (e) detection arrangements electrically associated with the power source for detecting the presence of liquid at a downstream region of the capillaries; (f) a display operated by the power source for indicating the result of the test; and (g) a signal processor associated with the power source, detection arrangement and display for evaluating the result of the test and providing the result on the display.

Abstract: A sample testing device for testing for the presence of a component of interest in a liquid sample comprises: (a) at least one capillary pathway which has an upstream end and a downstream end and which incorporates a reagent system capable of causing agglutination with said component to be detected (the test capillary); (b) preferably, but optionally, at least one capillary pathway having an upstream end and a downstream end (the control capillary); (c) a sampling region to which the liquid sample is applied and from which the sample is able to enter the upstream ends of the test capillary(s) and if present the control capillary(s); (d) a power source; (c) detection arrangements electrically associated with said power source for detecting the presence of liquid at a downstream region of said testing capillary(s) and if present the control capillary(s); (f) display means operated by said power source for indicating the result of the test; and (g) signal processing means associated with the power source, detect

Abstract: A sample testing device for testing for the presence of a component of interest in a liquid sample comprises: (a) at least one capillary pathway which has an upstream end and a downstream end and which incorporates a reagent system capable of causing agglutination with said component to be detected (the test capillary); (b) preferably, but optionally, at least one capillary pathway having an upstream end and a downstream end (the control capillary); (c) a sampling region to which the liquid sample is applied and from which the sample is able to enter the upstream ends of the test capillary(s) and if present the control capillary(s); (d) a power source; (c) detection arrangements electrically associated with said power source for detecting the presence of liquid at a downstream region of said testing capillary(s) and if present the control capillary(s); (f) display means operated by said power source for indicating the result of the test; and (g) signal processing means associated with the power source, detect

Abstract: A method of preparing a salt product comprises the steps of: (i) providing a mixture which comprises salt dissolved in a solvent, said mixture further containing an organic material that is solid under ambient temperature conditions; and (ii) atomising said mixture and evaporating said solvent to produce a salt product comprised of particles of salt incorporating said organic material. The organic material may be a polymer such as a carbohydrate (e.g. maltodextrin or Gum Arabic). Novel salt products are disclosed which comprise hollow particles having a shell formed for individual crystallites of salt. The salt product is useful as a seasoning for food and may be used in lower amounts than conventional salt to provide the same taste. Particular advantages are obtained in the baking of bread.

Abstract: The present invention provides an agglutination based assay system for determining the presence and/or amount of analyte in a sample comprising a test device having one or more capillary pathways comprising detection regions adapted for non-visual detection of a sample which is releasably engageable with a reader which comprises detection means for detecting the sample at the detection regions in each of said capillary pathways and electronic means for indicating the presence and/or amount of analyte. Also provided are the individual test device and reader components, and an assay method using the system.

Abstract: Amplification of nucleic acids using oligonucleotides immobilized on solid phase supports is disclosed. Target nucleic acid strands (in a sample to be analyzed) are hybridized to the oligonucleotides and copy target strands (incorporating immobilized oligonucleotide) are produced using the target strands as templates. The target strands are denatured from the copy target strands and rehybridized to non-extended oligonucleotides. In the next step, new copy target 1 strands are synthesized from the oligonucleotides hybridized to the target strands, and simultaneously copy target 2 strands are synthesized using previously generated copy target 1 strands. Sequence of denaturing, rehybridizing, and producing copy target 1 and copy target 2 strands is repeated as often as necessary to give the desired degree of amplification.